The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting Legion of Merit to Commander Kenneth W. Donnell, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander Pacific Area Construction Detachments and Commanding Officer of a Coast guard Construction Unit. He was responsible for planning and executing the establishment and operation of 28 LORAN station throughout the Pacific Ocean areas. These valuable aids to navigation for combat air surface and submarine craft established under difficult condition and in minimum time, were an important contribution to the early defeat of Japan.